Subject category:
Strategy and General Management
Published by:
Allied Business Academies
Length: 18 pages
Data source: Field research
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Abstract
During the summer of 2004, the owners of InterlandData, Mark and Susan Hamidi, began to assess their current position within the Web hosting industry and their alternatives for expansion. After nine years in operation, the company had achieved a reasonably stable, yet not highly profitable financial footing. Both owners are experiencing considerable pressure to expand their organization. They believe that opportunities exist to franchise the operation, or grow by expansion. The case ends with the co-owners faced with making a strategic decision about the best way to expand and how to find both the managerial and financial resources to do so. An implicit question in the case involves the long-term viability of the business. The primary subject matter in this case is formulating strategic decisions that need to be made regarding a small entrepreneurial firm’s future direction. The owners are a couple who are faced with the decision of whether or not to expand as well as with the challenges of obtaining the necessary financing, structuring the organization for growth, and allocating management time. This raises several issues and illustrates several lessons. In particular, management proposes potential changes, offering students the opportunity to critique their plans. Evaluated carefully, students should identify the critical success factors and whether and how these elements can be leveraged as they implement their expansion plans. The purpose of this case is to provide students with enough information about the business situation to be able to chart what course of action the company should take at a given point in time. This case has a difficulty level of four, appropriate for senior level. It is designed to be taught in two class hours and is expected to require four hours of outside preparation by students.
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Abstract
During the summer of 2004, the owners of InterlandData, Mark and Susan Hamidi, began to assess their current position within the Web hosting industry and their alternatives for expansion. After nine years in operation, the company had achieved a reasonably stable, yet not highly profitable financial footing. Both owners are experiencing considerable pressure to expand their organization. They believe that opportunities exist to franchise the operation, or grow by expansion. The case ends with the co-owners faced with making a strategic decision about the best way to expand and how to find both the managerial and financial resources to do so. An implicit question in the case involves the long-term viability of the business. The primary subject matter in this case is formulating strategic decisions that need to be made regarding a small entrepreneurial firm’s future direction. The owners are a couple who are faced with the decision of whether or not to expand as well as with the challenges of obtaining the necessary financing, structuring the organization for growth, and allocating management time. This raises several issues and illustrates several lessons. In particular, management proposes potential changes, offering students the opportunity to critique their plans. Evaluated carefully, students should identify the critical success factors and whether and how these elements can be leveraged as they implement their expansion plans. The purpose of this case is to provide students with enough information about the business situation to be able to chart what course of action the company should take at a given point in time. This case has a difficulty level of four, appropriate for senior level. It is designed to be taught in two class hours and is expected to require four hours of outside preparation by students.